archil

2 definitions found

archil - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Archil \Ar"chil\ (?; 277), n. [OF. orchel, orcheil, It. orcella,
     oricello, or OSp. orchillo. Cf. Orchil.]
     1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen
        (Roccella tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks
        in the Canary and Cape Verd Islands, etc. --Tomlinson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also
        orchal and orchil.]
        [1913 Webster]

archil - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  archil
      n 1: a purplish dye obtained from orchil lichens [syn: orchil,
           archil, cudbear]
      2: any of various lecanoras that yield the dye archil [syn:
         archil, orchil]